Track & Field | 3/27/2026 7:51:00 PM

Oberlin, Ohio – Hosting day one of the two-day meet, the Oberlin College track & field team hosted the Bob Kahn Invitational on Friday. Honoring Robert Lewis Kahn '55, a major donor who funded the outdoor track and field complex, the invitational celebrates the former cross country, track and field, and tennis student-athlete. 

"The team embraced the conditions today as an opportunity to compete, and came away with some great marks, and more importantly with some displays of competitive engagement that can be the building blocks for a great season," Head Coach Ben Wach adds.

Kicking things off for the Crimson and Gold in the javelin, Celia Vaughn launched a throw of 26.44m to open the outdoor season, placing sixth in the field. The senior trio of Namu Makatiani, Kit Evans, and Andres Adam impressed in the men's javelin. Makatiani led with an impressive five-meter personal best, registering a mark of 48.51m to grab the victory. Evans followed with a runner-up finish with a mark of 44.45m while Adam collected a personal record of 36.84m to place fifth. 

In the hammer throw, Abraham Cromartie V delivered a personal-best mark of 40.44m, placing 10th overall in a field of 22 athletes. Quinn Hardy was Oberlin's top finisher in the women's hammer, producing a mark of 32.59m in her collegiate debut. 

Anna Fritz led the field in the long jump, jumping to a 5.33m (+3.0) and securing an outdoor personal best. Rookie Molly Button made her outdoor debut in the long jump, launching to a mark of 4.36m (+3.7) in her final attempt, placing fourth overall. 

Over in the neighboring pit, Michael Dolton jumped to an impressive fourth-place finish in the men's long jump with a mark of 6.03m (+3.4).

Kicking off the only running events of the day, Char Purcell clocked in a third-place finish of 18:53.31 in the 5,000m, shaving five seconds off her personal best. Amber Borofsky followed close behind, taking fourth overall with an eight-second personal record of 18:57.76. 

Following the women's race, Piers Shirk won the men's 5,000m with a winning time of 15:13.79. Liam Newman clinched the bronze position, crossing the line in 15:17.17 to launch his senior outdoor season.

"That was a great race, I told the fellas I'd take the lead for this one. The cold air hit me hard and I was breathing manually at first, but then I balled out like Aaron Rodgers," Shirk continues. "I'm excited to run it back next weekend with the boys."

The Crimson and Gold resume the second day of the Bob Kahn Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, March 28. Field events kick off at 10 a.m. with running events to follow at 12 p.m. Upon conclusion of the women's 4x400m, Oberlin will hold a brief Senior Recognition Ceremony at the finish line. 

Keep up with the Crimson and Gold on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and watch every home game on the Oberlin Sports Network online or on Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV.